[jacksonpt]

The fork is an 07 RS Reba (100mm air). During a rather tame ride the other night, the fork lost most of its travel. I assumed it wasn't holding air (blown seals, perhaps) as even with no weight on the bike, the fork sagged significantly.

I got it home and checked the air pressure - approx 70psi, so it was holding air, just not enough (at least at that point), for me to ride on. I pumped it back up to 115psi and it seems to be holding the air. But the fork won't "extend" back out, and travel is still very limited.

I adjusted the rebound slightly before the ride the other night (1/4 turn slower), but other than that, I haven't touched any of the adjustments. I use the lockout often, but it is open (unlocked) and travel is still limited.

I've got a TALAS on my trail bike, and when I wind down the travel on it, the fork shortens. When I go back to full travel, the fork "lengthens" and full travel is returned. My reba is acting similarly, like travel has somehow been turned down on it, except it's not the u-turn model - not travel adjust option on this fork.

In case you can't tell, I've never dealt with this sort of thing before, so I'm not sure where to start looking.

Any suggestions?

 

[Polandspring88]

What model? Is it the dual air or the solo air?

 

[jacksonpt]

hmmm - good question. Off the top of my head, I don't remember. Knowing me, it's probably the solo. Is there an easy way to tell by looking at the fork?

 

[profro]

Schreader valve on top and bottom = dual air
Schreader valve on top = solo air

 

[jacksonpt]

OK, thank... will check when I get home. I don't spend much time looking at the bottom of the legs, so I don't remember off the top of my head.

 

[slimshady]

Check out if the fork went hydro-locked. That happens when oil from the left leg leaks down to the space between the stanchion and the outer lower assembly. If you take off the rebound adjuster (it's a 2.5mm allen key inserted in there, simply pull it out) and unscrew the M5 hollow allen screw, there should be no more than 15-20 ml of oil in there. If you find more, odds are the rebound shaft o-ring got blown and the oil leaked down.

 

[jacksonpt]

OK... I pretended like I'm fairly competent, put the bike in the stand, dug out the user manual, and actually took a look at things.

It's a dual air (I could tell because it's got 2 schreader valves, thanks pro, and because of the big sticker on the back of the fork leg :roll eyes: ). I checked both, and both were holding air, though I didn't look closely at how much. I let the air out of both, and as soon as I did that, the fork extended back out fully. I pressurized both with the recommended pressure based on my weight, pulled the bike out of the stand, and bounced around on it for a minute or so - everything seems fine now.

Looks like, somehow, the air pressure in the 2 chambers got out of whack, and rather suddenly. I'll keep an eye on it, hopefully it was just something fluky.

 

[slimshady]

Looks like, somehow, the air pressure in the 2 chambers got out of whack, and rather suddenly. I'll keep an eye on it, hopefully it was just something fluky.

It happens now and then. If it begins to happen too often, and the fork is still in warranty, take it to your LBS. It could be related to a failure in the seal that separates the two chambers. RS should replace it without charge, since it´s a known issue, as far as I know.

 

[jacksonpt]

Thanks. It's not under warranty, but I'll keep an eye it.

 

[Hougham]

The duel air do funny things. The trick is often to back and forth from the top and bottom a few times when pumping them up. The pressure in one can alter when you pump up the other. So just go back and forth a few times until it settles down. If the pressures are way out from on then another the fork will do funny things like shrink.